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f697dcd79fb39b9e3912ae96fa5768cd18d5f042ff123c97cfcd1780348fb36f
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2026-01-06T11:00:00+00:00
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Is it too ‘late’ to celebrate America 250?
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Americans seem to be feeling very “late” these days. “Late-stage capitalism” has for a few years been the catchall for the indignities and inconveniences of life for workers and consumers. It is now joined by “late republic,” a lament for the threadbare and tattered Constitution. For many, particularly for the pseudo-intellectuals of social media, the…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5673539-american-nation-system-debate/
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World & Politics
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cf10162d0cd2e0a39d4acd9e0eb9315fe806dbf4674a72b31d29d62ba631985c
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2026-01-07T05:00:00+00:00
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Algae Swirls Across a South African Reservoir
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On clear days in Hartbeespoort, South Africa, satellite images often reveal a reservoir with shades of deep blue interrupted by drifting patches of vivid green. These shifting features indicate algae blooms, which can affect water quality, ecosystems, and nearby human communities. In this animation, from June 2022 to July 2023, an algal bloom grows, moves around the reservoir, and then fades. The animation is composed of images from Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS), a NASA product that combines imagery from the NASA/USGS Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites and the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2A, 2B, and 2C satellites. Algae is an umbrella term for photosynthetic organisms that live in water, encompassing everything from single-celled cyanobacteria to seaweed. They play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. But when colonies of algae spread too widely or release harmful toxins, they can threaten the very environments they support. These colonies are known as harmful algal blooms, or HABs. Some HABs are toxic and often are part of a process called eutrophication. Eutrophication begins when there are too many nutrients in an ecosystem—because of agricultural runoff and other inputs—leading to a rapid growth of algae. “It’s like having a garden,” said Bridget Seegers, a NASA scientist who studies cyanobacteria in freshwater ecosystems. “If you add a lot of nutrients, you’re going to have a lot of growth.” Eventually, the algae die off. As decomposers break down the dead algae, they consume oxygen, which can lead to hypoxia and the formation of dead zones. Such conditions have been documented at the Hartbeespoortdam (Hartbeespoort Dam) reservoir, located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) west of Pretoria and used primarily for recreation and irrigation. The reservoir is home to regular harmful algal blooms containing cyanobacteria. It also hosts large mats of invasive water hyacinths. While hyacinths do not produce toxins, they do contribute to eutrophication when they die and decompose. Harmful algal blooms can affect ecosystem health and human lives and livelihoods. In April 2023, South African authorities linked a large fish kill in Hartbeespoort to low oxygen levels caused by excessive algal growth. More broadly, HABs in drinking water reservoirs can reduce water availability and raise water treatment costs, while swimming in HAB-infested waters can cause rashes, and pets or livestock that drink it may fall ill or die. One 2022 paper published in Remote Sensing examined algae in the reservoir from 1980 to 2020 using Landsat data. “This is a reservoir that has always been monitored heavily by the local department of water resources,” said Adam Ali, the lead author of the paper. The research used satellite data to provide a big-picture view of conditions across the entire reservoir over long time scales. Using 40 years of Landsat data, the researchers found that the biggest drivers of algal growth were total phosphorus content—a nutrient found in runoff—and water temperature, with blooms typically expanding in the warm summer months and subsiding in the winter. They also identified key trends over space and time. Algal productivity was higher near Krokodilrivier (Crocodile River) inflows and in the western part of the reservoir due to golf course runoff and restricted water circulation, demonstrating how HABs are influenced by runoff and river inputs. Large blooms occurred between 1982 and 1986, when total phosphorus levels were high. A bioremediation program in the late 1980s succeeded in limiting algae growth, but after funding ended in the late 1990s, harmful algal blooms spiked again in the early 2000s. To track algae from space, the researchers analyzed the water’s color by measuring different wavelengths of light. From this, they estimated the concentration of chlorophyll-a, a common pigment in algae, and used these values to approximate algae biomass over time. Although water samples remain necessary to confirm that a bloom is harmful, satellite data can help scientists understand the drivers of harmful algal blooms, especially in remote regions where regular ground monitoring is expensive and time intensive. New and forthcoming NASA missions promise to advance space-based water quality monitoring. The next Landsat satellite is expected to measure wavelengths specifically designed to detect HABs. NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission, launched in 2024, collects data in hundreds of precise wavelength bands in the visible spectrum, which can help scientists identify the type of algae that comprise a certain bloom—a key factor in determining toxicity. Given PACE’s spatial resolution, the data is most useful in coastal areas or larger inland water bodies. Ali is working with researchers at NASA Ames to integrate PACE into future studies. Animation by Ross Walter/Landsat Science Office Support, using data from the Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) product. Still image by Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Madeleine Gregory/Landsat Science Office Support.
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https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/algae-swirls-across-a-south-african-reservoir/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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428d778783fc78fd0606e9397874b38e623ed14c2af0bd31f7ac3640955fc778
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2026-01-06T21:30:45+00:00
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Supernova Remnant Video From NASA’s Chandra Is Decades in Making
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A new video shows the evolution of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory captured over more than two and a half decades. Kepler’s Supernova Remnant, named after the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, was first spotted in the night sky in 1604. Today, astronomers know that a white dwarf star exploded when it exceeded a critical mass, after pulling material from a companion star, or merging with another white dwarf. This kind of supernova is known as a Type Ia, and scientists use it to measure the expansion of the universe. Supernova remnants, the debris fields left behind after a stellar explosion, often glow strongly in X-ray light because the material has been heated to millions of degrees from the blast. The remnant is located in our galaxy, about 17,000 light-years from Earth, allowing Chandra to make detailed images of the debris and how it changes with time. This latest video includes its X-ray data from 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. This makes it the longest-spanning video that Chandra has ever released, enabled by Chandra’s longevity. “The plot of Kepler’s story is just now beginning to unfold,” said Jessye Gassel, a graduate student at George Mason University in Virginia, who led the work. “It’s remarkable that we can watch as these remains from this shattered star crash into material already thrown out into space.” Gassel presented the new Chandra video and the associated research at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Phoenix. The researchers used the video to show that the fastest parts of the remnant are traveling at about 13.8 million miles per hour (2% of the speed of light), moving toward the bottom of the image. Meanwhile, the slowest parts are traveling toward the top at about 4 million miles per hour (0.5% of the speed of light). This large difference in speed is because the gas that the remnant is plowing into toward the top of the image is denser than the gas toward the bottom. This gives scientists information about the environments into which this star exploded. “Supernova explosions and the elements they hurl into space are the lifeblood of new stars and planets,” said Brian Williams of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and principal investigator of the new Chandra observations of Kepler. “Understanding exactly how they behave is crucial to knowing our cosmic history.” The team also examined the widths of the rims forming the blast wave of the explosion. The blast wave is the leading edge of the explosion and the first to encounter material outside of the star. By measuring how wide it is and how fast it is traveling, astronomers glean more information about both the explosion of the star and its surroundings. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts. To learn more about Chandra, visit: Read more from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory Learn more about the Chandra X-ray Observatory and its mission here: This release features a ten second silent video of Kepler’s expanding Supernova Remnant, located in our own galaxy, about 17,000 light-years from Earth. The video was created using X-ray data gathered in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. Those distinct datasets were turned into highly-detailed visuals, creating a 25-year timelapse-style video of the growing remnant. Kepler’s Supernova Remnant was once a white dwarf star that exploded when it exceeded its critical mass. Here, in X-ray light, the remnant resembles a cloudy neon blue ring with a diagonal cross line stretching from our upper right down to our lower left. The ring appears thinner and wispier at the bottom, with a band of white arching across the top. As the video plays, cycling through the 5 datasets, the ring subtly, but clearly, expands, like a slowly inflating balloon. In the video, this sequence is replayed several times with dates included at our lower right, to give sighted learners time to absorb the visual information. Upon close inspection, researchers have determined that the bottom of the remnant is expanding fastest; about 13.8 million miles per hour, or 2% of the speed of light. The top of the ring appears to be expanding the slowest; about 4 million miles per hour, or 0.5% of the speed of light. The large difference in speed is because the gas that the remnant is plowing into towards the top of the image is denser than the gas towards the bottom. Collecting and interpreting this data over decades has provided information about the environment into which the white dwarf star exploded, and has helped scientists understand how remnants change with time.
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https://www.nasa.gov/missions/chandra/supernova-remnant-video-from-nasas-chandra-is-decades-in-making/
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Space & Physics
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7d4d7761f54dc95a9af65a5da4f2cc91f571c7e5ecb30445c30b540ea87d05f4
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2026-01-06T21:19:24+00:00
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NASA Awards Launch Range Contract for Wallops Flight Facility
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NASA has selected ARES Technical Services Corporation of McLean, Virginia, to provide launch range operations support at the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Wallops Range Contract has a total potential value of $339.8 million with a one-year base period expected to begin Tuesday, Feb. 10, and four one-year option periods that if exercised would extend it to 2031. The contract includes a cost-plus-fixed-fee core with an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity component and the ability to issue cost-plus-fixed-fee or firm-fixed-price task orders. The scope of the work includes launch range operations support such as radar, telemetry, logistics, tracking, and communications services for flight vehicles including orbital and suborbital rockets, aircraft, satellites, balloons, and unmanned aerial systems. Additional responsibilities include information and computer systems services; testing, modifying, and installing communications and electronic systems at launch facilities, launch control centers, and test facilities; and range technology sustainment engineering services. Work will primarily occur at NASA Wallops with additional support at sites such as the agency’s Bermuda Tracking Station, Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, and other temporary duty locations. For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: Tiernan DoyleHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600tiernan.doyle@nasa.gov Robert GarnerGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.301-286-5687rob.garner@nasa.gov
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https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-launch-range-contract-for-wallops-flight-facility/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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a445833132954bd1e86b8adb488555126395ddca2fd0a897e2c454dcfc6d88a5
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2026-01-06T18:44:30+00:00
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NASA Marshall Prepares for Demolition of Historic Test, Simulation Facilities
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NASA is preparing for the demolition of three iconic structures at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Crews began demolition in mid-December at the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, a facility built in the late 1960s that once enabled NASA astronauts and researchers to experience near-weightlessness. The facility was also used to conduct underwater testing of space hardware and practice runs for servicing the Hubble Space Telescope. The simulator was closed in 1997. Two test stands – the Propulsion and Structural Test Facility and Dynamic Test Facility – are also slated for demolition, one after the other, by carefully coordinated implosion no earlier than sunrise on Jan. 10, 2026. The demolition of these historic structures is part of a larger project that began in spring 2022, targeting several inactive structures no longer needed for the agency’s missions. All three towering fixtures played crucial roles in getting humans to the Moon, into low-Earth orbit, and beyond. These structures have reached the end of their safe, operational life, and their removal has been long-planned as part of a broader effort to modernize Marshall’s footprint. This demolition is the first phase of an initiative that will ultimately remove 25 outdated structures, reduce maintenance burdens, and position Marshall to take full advantage of a guaranteed NASA center infrastructure investment authorized under the Working Families Tax Credit Act. “This work reflects smart stewardship of taxpayer resources,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Clearing outdated infrastructure allows NASA to safely modernize, streamline operations, and fully leverage the infrastructure investments signed into law by President Trump to keep Marshall positioned at the forefront of aerospace innovation.” Built in 1964, the Dynamic Test Stand initially was used to test fully assembled Saturn V rockets. In 1978, engineers integrated all space shuttle elements for the first time, including the orbiter, external fuel tank, and solid rocket boosters. It was last used in the early 2000s for microgravity testing. The Propulsion and Structural Test Facility – better known at Marshall as the “T-tower” due to its unique shape – was built in 1957 by the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency and transferred to NASA when Marshall was founded in 1960. There, engineers tested components of the Saturn launch vehicles, the Army’s Redstone Rocket, and shuttle solid rocket boosters. It was last used for space shuttle solid rocket motor tests in the 1990s. “Each one of these structures helped NASA make history,” said Rae Ann Meyer, acting center director at Marshall. “While it is hard to let them go, they’ve earned their retirement. The people who built and managed these facilities and empowered our mission of space exploration are the most important part of their legacy.” “These structures are not safe,” continued Meyer. “Strategic demolition is a necessary step in shaping the future of NASA’s mission to explore, innovate, and inspire. By removing these structures that we have not used in decades, we are saving money on upkeep of facilities we can’t use. We also are making these areas safe to use for future NASA exploration endeavors and investments.” When NASA opened the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator in 1968, it was one of few places on Earth that could recreate the weightlessness of microgravity. The facility provided a simulated zero-gravity environment in which engineers and astronauts could find out how their designs might handle in orbit. The tank has been central to planning and problem-solving for Skylab missions, repairs to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, and more. The tank is 75 feet in diameter, 40 feet deep, and designed to hold up to nearly 1.5 million gallons of water. It was replaced in 1997 by a new, larger facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The Propulsion and Structural Test Facility is one of the oldest test stands at Marshall. The dual-position test stand, sometimes called the T-tower, was built for static testing large rockets and launch systems – like launching a rocket while keeping it restrained and wired to instruments that collect data. The tests and data played a role in the development of the Saturn family of rockets, including the F-1 engine and S-IC. The Dynamic Test Stand, a 360-foot tower topped by a 64-foot derrick, was once the tallest human-made structure in North Alabama. Engineers there conducted full-scale tests of Saturn V rockets – the same powerful vehicles that carried Apollo astronauts to the Moon. Later, the stand served as the first location where all space shuttle elements were integrated. The irreplaceable historical value of these landmarks has prompted NASA to undertake extensive efforts to preserve their stories for future generations. The three facilities were made national landmarks in 1985 for their part in human spaceflight. In keeping with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, master planners and engineers at Marshall completed a rigorous consultation and mitigation process for each landmark, working closely with Alabama’s State Historic Preservation Office to preserve their history for future generations. Detailed architectural documentation, written histories, and large-format photographs are permanently archived in the Library of Congress’ Historic American Engineering Record collection, making this history accessible to researchers and the public for generations. Additionally, NASA has partnered with Auburn University to create high-resolution digital models of each facility. The project used technologies like LiDAR and 360-photography of the structures in detail before demolition. Their goal is to preserve not just the appearance, but the sense of scale and engineering achievement they represent. The models are still in work, but they’ll eventually be publicly available. Select artifacts from the facilities have also been identified and transferred to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center through NASA’s Artifact Program, ensuring tangible pieces of this history remain available for educational purposes. For the employees, retirees, and community members who remember these facilities over the decades, their removal marks the end of an era. But their contributions live on in every NASA mission, from the International Space Station to the upcoming Artemis II lunar missions and more. “NASA’s vision of space exploration remains vibrant, and as we look to an exciting future, we honor the past, especially the dedication of the men and women who built these structures and tested hardware that has launched into space, made unprecedented scientific discoveries, and inspired generations of Americans to reach for the stars,” said Meyer. The demolitions represent more than removing obsolete infrastructure. They’re part of NASA’s commitment to building a dynamic, interconnected campus ready for the next era of space exploration while honoring the bold spirit that has always driven the agency forward. Virtual tours and preserved documentation will be made available on Marshall’s digital channels. Marshall will also share video of the test stand demolitions after the event. For communities near Redstone Arsenal, there could be a loud noise associated with the demolition on the morning of Jan. 10.
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https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/marshall/nasa-marshall-prepares-for-demolition-of-historic-test-simulation-facilities/
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Space & Physics
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90fa7838b01319e5935c6acdced7211a915a47e1464755b0dad09c1010ac135e
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2026-01-06T17:16:00+00:00
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Scientists Identify ‘Astronomy’s Platypus’ with NASA’s Webb Telescope
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After combing through NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s archive of sweeping extragalactic cosmic fields, a small team of astronomers at the University of Missouri says they have identified a sample of galaxies that have a previously unseen combination of features. Principal investigator Haojing Yan compares the discovery to an infamous oddball in another branch of science: biology’s taxonomy-defying platypus. “It seems that we’ve identified a population of galaxies that we can’t categorize, they are so odd. On the one hand they are extremely tiny and compact, like a point source, yet we do not see the characteristics of a quasar, an active supermassive black hole, which is what most distant point sources are,” said Yan. The research was presented in a press conference at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Phoenix. “I looked at these characteristics and thought, this is like looking at a platypus. You think that these things should not exist together, but there it is right in front of you, and it’s undeniable,” Yan said. The team whittled down a sample of 2,000 sources across several Webb surveys to identify nine point-like sources that existed 12 to 12.6 billion years ago (compared to the universe’s age of 13.8 billion years). Spectral data gives astronomers more information than they can get from an image alone, and for these nine sources it doesn’t fit existing definitions. They are too far away to be stars in our own galaxy, and too faint to be quasars, which are so brilliant that they outshine their host galaxies. Though the spectra resemble the less distant “green pea” galaxies discovered in 2009, the galaxies in this sample are much more compact. “Like spectra, the detailed genetic code of a platypus provides additional information that shows just how unusual the animal is, sharing genetic features with birds, reptiles, and mammals,” said Yan. “Together, Webb’s imaging and spectra are telling us that these galaxies have an unexpected combination of features.” Yan explained that for typical quasars, the peaks in their characteristic spectral emission lines look like hills, with a broad base, indicating the high velocity of gas swirling around their supermassive black hole. Instead, the peaks for the “platypus population” are narrow and sharp, indicating slower gas movement. While there are narrow-line galaxies that host active supermassive black holes, they do not have the point-like feature of the sample Yan’s team has identified. Has Yan’s team discovered a missing link in the cosmos? Once the team determined that the objects didn’t fit the definition of a quasar, graduate student researcher Bangzheng Sun analyzed the data to see if there were signatures of star-forming galaxies. “From the low-resolution spectra we have, we can’t rule out the possibility that these nine objects are star-forming galaxies. That data fits,” said Sun. “The strange thing in that case is that the galaxies are so tiny and compact, even though Webb has the resolving power to show us a lot of detail at this distance.” One proposal the team suggests is that Webb, as promised, is revealing earlier stages of galaxy formation and evolution than we have ever been able to see before. It is generally accepted across the astronomy community that large, massive galaxies like our own Milky Way grew by many smaller galaxies merging together. But, Yan asks, what comes before small galaxies? “I think this new research is presenting us with the question, how does the process of galaxy formation first begin? Can such small, building-block galaxies be formed in a quiet way, before chaotic mergers begin, as their point-like appearance suggests?” Yan said. To begin answering that question, as well as to determine more about the nature of their odd platypuses, the team says they need a much larger sample than nine to analyze, and with higher-resolution spectra. “We cast a wide net, and we found a few examples of something incredible. These nine objects weren’t the focus; they were just in the background of broad Webb surveys,” said Yan. “Now it’s time to think about the implications of that, and how we can use Webb’s capabilities to learn more.” The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency). To learn more about Webb, visit: The following sections contain links to download this article’s images and videos in all available resolutions followed by related information links, media contacts, and if available, research paper and spanish translation links. Read more: Webb Science: Galaxies Through Time Explore more: ViewSpace Seeing Farther: Hubble Ultra Deep Field Explore more: JWST’s Tiny Red Sources and the Big Questions They Raise Read more: Webb Shows Many Early Galaxies Looked Like Pool Noodles, Surfboards More Webb News More Webb Images Webb Science Themes Webb Mission Page What is the Webb Telescope? SpacePlace for Kids Laura Betz NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland laura.e.betz@nasa.gov Leah Ramsay Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland
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https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/scientists-identify-astronomys-platypus-with-nasas-webb-telescope/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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9257d2095c42c913ee1f4fe9d09bdeeb9dc649ef64968667e6a54076676d7f4c
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2026-01-06T17:14:00+00:00
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NASA Webb Finds Early-Universe Analog’s Unexpected Talent for Making Dust
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Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted two rare kinds of dust in the dwarf galaxy Sextans A, one of the most chemically primitive galaxies near the Milky Way. The finding of metallic iron dust and silicon carbide (SiC) produced by aging stars, along with tiny clumps of carbon-based molecules, shows that even when the universe had only a fraction of today’s heavy elements, stars and the interstellar medium could still forge solid dust grains. This research with Webb is reshaping ideas about how early galaxies evolved and developed the building blocks for planets, as NASA explores the secrets of the universe and our place in it. Sextans A lies about 4 million light-years away and contains only 3 to 7 percent of the Sun’s metal content, or metallicity, the astrophysical term for elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. Because the galaxy is so small, unlike other nearby galaxies, its gravitational pull is too weak to retain the heavy elements like iron and oxygen created by supernovae and aging stars. Galaxies like it resemble those that filled the early universe just after the big bang, when the universe was made of mostly hydrogen and helium, before stars had time to enrich space with ‘metals.’ Because it is relatively close, Sextans A gives astronomers a rare chance to study individual stars and interstellar clouds under conditions similar to those shortly after the big bang. “Sextans A is giving us a blueprint for the first dusty galaxies,” said Elizabeth Tarantino, postdoctoral researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute and lead author of the results in one of the two studies presented at a press conference at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Phoenix. “These results help us interpret the most distant galaxies imaged by Webb and understand what the universe was building with its earliest ingredients.” One of those studies, published in the Astrophysical Journal, honed in on a half a dozen stars with the low-resolution spectrometer aboard Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument). The data collected shows the chemical fingerprints of the bloated stars very late in their evolution, called asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Stars with masses between one and eight times that of the Sun pass through this phase. “One of these stars is on the high-mass end of the AGB range, and stars like this usually produce silicate dust. However, at such low metallicity, we expect these stars to be nearly dust-free,” said Martha Boyer, associate astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute and lead author in that second companion study. “Instead, Webb revealed a star forging dust grains made almost entirely of iron. This is something we’ve never seen in stars that are analogs of stars in the early universe.” Silicates, the usual dust formed by oxygen-rich stars, require elements like silicon and magnesium that are almost nonexistent in Sextans A. It would be like trying to bake cookies in a kitchen without flour, sugar, and butter. A normal cosmic kitchen, like the Milky Way, has those crucial ingredients in the form of silicon, carbon, and iron. In a primitive kitchen, like Sextans A, where almost all of those ingredients are missing, you barely have any proverbial flour or sugar. Therefore, astronomers expected that without those key ingredients, stars in Sextans A couldn’t “bake” much dust at all. However, not only did they find dust, but Webb showed that one of these stars used an entirely different recipe than usual to make that dust. The iron-only dust, as well as silicon carbide produced by the less massive AGB stars despite the galaxy’s low silicon abundance, proves that evolved stars can still build solid material even when the typical ingredients are missing. “Dust in the early universe may have looked very different from the silicate grains we see today,” Boyer said. “These iron grains absorb light efficiently but leave no sharp spectral fingerprints and can contribute to the large dust reservoirs seen in far-away galaxies detected by Webb.” In the companion study, currently under peer review, Webb imaged Sextans A’s interstellar medium and discovered polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are complex, carbon-based molecules and the smallest dust grains that glow in infrared light. The discovery means Sextans A is now the lowest-metallicity galaxy ever found to contain PAHs. But, unlike the broad, sweeping PAH emission seen in metal-rich galaxies, Webb revealed PAHs in tiny, dense pockets only a few light-years across. “Webb shows that PAHs can form and survive even in the most metal-starved galaxies, but only in small, protected islands of dense gas,” said Tarantino. The clumps likely represent regions where dust shielding and gas density reach just high enough to allow PAHs to form and grow, solving a decades-long mystery about why PAHs seem to vanish in metal-poor galaxies. The team has an approved Webb Cycle 4 program to use high-resolution spectroscopy to study the detailed chemistry of Sextans A’s PAH clumps further. Together, the results show that the early universe had more diverse dust production pathways than the more established and proven methods, like supernova explosions. Additionally, researchers now know there’s more dust than predicted at extremely low metallicities. “Every discovery in Sextans A reminds us that the early universe was more inventive than we imagined,” said Boyer. “Clearly stars found a way to make the building blocks of planets long before galaxies like our own existed.” The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency). To learn more about Webb, visit: The following sections contain links to download this article’s images and videos in all available resolutions followed by related information links, media contacts, and if available, research paper and spanish translation links. Read more: Webb Science: Galaxies Through Time Explore more: Massive stars: Engines of Creation Explore more: Wolf-Rayet Apep Visualization Read more: Spectroscopy 101 More Webb News More Webb Images Webb Science Themes Webb Mission Page What is the Webb Telescope? SpacePlace for Kids Laura Betz NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland laura.e.betz@nasa.gov Hannah Braun Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland
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https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasa-webb-finds-early-universe-analogs-unexpected-talent-for-making-dust/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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529b4cef146969c972f569c3f8dd29269c2ce7e9e6b8aaeb6f0796b65f9f8708
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2026-01-06T16:00:00+00:00
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Space Station Research Informs New FDA-Approved Cancer Therapy
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NASA opens the International Space Station for scientists and researchers, inviting them to use the benefits of microgravity for commercial and public research, technology demonstrations, and more. Today, a portion of the crew’s time aboard station is devoted to private industry, including medical research that addresses complex health challenges on Earth and prepares astronauts for future deep space missions. In collaboration with scientists at Merck, protein crystal growth research on the space station yielded early insights regarding the structure and size of particles best suited for the development of a new formulation of the company’s cancer medicine pembrolizumab for subcutaneous injection. This new route of delivery was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September and offers a time-saving alternative to intravenous infusion for certain patients. These research efforts aboard the space station were supported by the ISS National Laboratory. Originally, the treatment was delivered during an in-office visit via infusion therapy into the patient’s veins, a process that could take up to two hours. Initial delivery improvements reduced infusion times to less than 30 minutes every three weeks. The newly approved subcutaneous injectable form takes about one minute every three weeks, promising to improve quality of life for patients by reducing cost and significantly reducing treatment time for patients and healthcare providers. Since 2014, Merck has flown crystal growth experiments to the space station to better understand how crystals form, including the monoclonal antibody used in this cancer treatment. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that help the body fight diseases. This research focused on producing crystalline suspensions that dissolve easily in liquid, making it possible to deliver the medication by injection. In microgravity, the absence of gravity’s physical forces allows scientists to grow larger, more uniform, and higher-quality crystals than those grown in ground-based labs, advancing medication development and structural modeling. Research aboard the space station has provided valuable insights into how gravity influences crystallization, helping to improve drug formulations. The work of NASA and its partners aboard the space station improves lives on Earth, grows a commercial economy in low Earth orbit, and prepares for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
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https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/space-station-research-informs-new-fda-approved-cancer-therapy/
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Space & Physics
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645eaf9c101c1c8d26ea967198f346a73f11f24763e90876278190d4619ea183
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2026-01-06T15:42:34+00:00
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First Sky Map from NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory
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NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory has mapped the entire sky in 102 infrared colors, as seen here in this image released on Dec. 18, 2025. This image features a selection of colors emitted primarily by stars (blue, green, and white), hot hydrogen gas (blue), and cosmic dust (red). While not visible to the human eye, these 102 infrared wavelengths of light are prevalent in the cosmos, and observing the entire sky this way enables scientists to answer big questions, including how a dramatic event that occurred in the first billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second after the big bang influenced the 3D distribution of hundreds of millions of galaxies in our universe. In addition, scientists will use the data to study how galaxies have changed over the universe’s nearly 14-billion-year history and learn about the distribution of key ingredients for life in our own galaxy. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
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https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/first-sky-map-from-nasas-spherex-observatory/
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Space & Physics
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5184b7fc035565eafa086e5cd1717fe4100304f5a7106a87ab8172d467165e60
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2026-01-06T09:39:00+00:00
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Diving Into Human Spaceflight Safety with NASA Johnson’s Craig Shannon
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Growing up in Houston, Craig Shannon was always inspired by NASA and the spirit of exploration the agency represents. Yet it was a passion for scuba diving that unexpectedly led to his more than 23-year career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Shannon became a certified diver and scuba instructor while earning his bachelor’s degree in communications from Stephen F. Austin State University. He happened to meet divers from NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at a local environmental cleanup event during his senior year. “The encounter planted a seed,” he said. Shannon was hired as an NBL diver shortly after graduation, launching what would become a 19-year career in dive operations. He progressed through a variety of roles – from utility diver, instructor, and training officer, to dive operations lead, training group lead, and ultimately, dive operations manager. “Each role deepened my understanding of operational excellence, safety, and leadership in high-performance environments,” he said. Shannon added that becoming the dive operations manager was one of the defining points of his career. “I had the privilege of leading an exceptional team and contributing directly to astronaut training and operational excellence.” Seeking new challenges and opportunities for professional growth, Shannon transitioned to a test safety officer position at Johnson for about four years, expanding his knowledge of technical risk management in different environments. He returned to the NBL in 2025, this time as a safety officer. In that role, Shannon works to protect employees’ well-being and the facility’s operational integrity. His responsibilities are a mix of proactive safety initiatives – such as facility inspections, safety training, and communication – and incident response, which involves investigating mishaps and close calls and developing corrective action plans to prevent recurrence. He also serves as an internal technical consultant, fielding safety-related questions from employees and visitors and providing guidance that complies with Occupational Safety and Health Administration and NASA safety standards. “I work across functions with operations, engineering, medical, and training teams to integrate safety into all daily processes and long-term planning,” he said. “It brings full circle my commitment to the safety and success of human spaceflight training.” Shannon acknowledged that not having an engineering degree has made work more challenging at times, but it has not hindered his advancement. “I’ve earned key positions by committing myself to continuous learning, gaining in-depth knowledge of the technical areas I work in, and consistently demonstrating dedication to both my employers and my career,” he said. “My path has required hard work, adaptability, and a proactive approach to professional growth, which I view as strengths that have allowed me to contribute meaningfully in a highly technical setting.” Shannon has also learned the importance of embracing change. “Change isn’t always easy, but it’s often where the most learning and development happen,” he said. “Whether it was stepping into leadership for the first time, shifting into a new field, or returning to a familiar place with a new purpose, each transition brought growth I never could have anticipated.” He added that patience, accountability, and empathy are important leadership qualities that help build stronger, more resilient teams. While Shannon takes pride in his work, he said his family is his greatest achievement. “I’m most proud of raising three amazing children with my wife, Kimberley. They have been my grounding force and greatest inspiration,” he said. He is also the proud co-owner of a local scuba diving company, which allows him to combine his love for diving, travel, and community. “I’ve had the privilege of leading dive trips around the world with groups of amazing people—sharing unforgettable underwater experiences and fostering a strong, adventurous dive community,” he said. “It’s a way for me to stay connected to the roots of my diving career and continue exploring the world through the lens of curiosity and connection.” He encourages the next generation to find something they are passionate about. “It’s important to be genuinely excited about what you do and to face the challenges ahead with determination and curiosity,” he said. “That energy, paired with a willingness to adapt and grow, has carried me through each phase of my career. Challenges will come, but how you meet them defines your path.”
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https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/diving-into-human-spaceflight-safety-with-nasa-johnsons-craig-shannon/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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9ff2fc387cdcab826c04fd9224e1ad26e7d61a4eb570da048b9e7e4ef3ab82ab
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2026-01-06T05:01:00+00:00
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Reaching the Precipice in Angola
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In southwestern Angola, an expanse of coastal plains comes to an abrupt end at a natural barrier. The Huíla plateau soars above the lowlands to elevations of around 2,300 meters (7,500 feet). The sharp transition results in dramatic landscapes and a sudden change from an arid environment to more-temperate climes. The serrated edge of the Huíla plateau zigzags through this image, which is a mosaic of scenes acquired on June 19 and 20, 2025, with the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) and OLI on the Landsat 9 and Landsat 8 satellites, respectively. Areas around the plateau’s edges appear green with vegetation. But the landscape tends to look much browner by late September, at the end of the region’s dry season, during which almost no rain falls. This topography is part of the Great Escarpment of southern Africa, a 5,000-kilometer-long feature running roughly parallel to the continent’s edge. From Angola, it extends south through Namibia, across South Africa, and then northeast into Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The image below, acquired with the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite, shows a longer segment of the escarpment in Angola. Scientists believe the escarpment formed after the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana in the Jurassic period. Since then, erosion has worn away at the continental margin such that the escarpment now sits 50 to 200 kilometers (30 to 120 miles) back from the coast. This Angolan section of the escarpment features dizzying, yet beautiful, landscapes. Tundavala Gap, a gouge eroded into the cliff line (below), is one of the most iconic with its well-framed view of the plains below. The precipice also presents a substantial obstacle to transportation. A stretch of the Namibe-Lubango Road overcomes this challenge with a series of scenic hairpin turns climbing to Serra da Leba pass near the town of Leba. Lubango, one of Angola’s largest cities, occupies a valley on the Huíla plateau. In addition to its remarkable natural surroundings, the city boasts a diverse mix of cultures, striking architecture, and a wide variety of locally produced foods. NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey, and VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Photo of Tundavala Gap © jbdodane.com. Story by Lindsey Doermann.
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https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/reaching-the-precipice-in-angola/
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Space & Physics
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c80f2ed365d54db23eb38a0767938bc0f76118b16d19013a568fcdba98a1d4eb
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2026-01-06T21:30:03
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'Pocket-type' high-temperature superconducting coil achieves 44.86 tesla combined magnetic field
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A research team led by Kuang Guangli and Jiang Donghui at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CHMFL), has developed a "pocket-type" high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coil, achieving a record combined magnetic field of 44.86 tesla.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-pocket-high-temperature-superconducting-tesla.html
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Space & Physics
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d13dbda4190d8f0d5841e5c145429855cb29fccbebb769a5d89326e2b85f537c
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2026-01-06T15:26:47
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Advanced quantum detectors are reinventing the search for dark matter
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When it comes to understanding the universe, what we know is only a sliver of the whole picture.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-advanced-quantum-detectors-reinventing-dark.html
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Space & Physics
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b2056c15adf4d46e82181cbe5602b1329b0c201cd5252ecde818ced2b5c52051
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2026-01-06T11:49:34
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Electrons that lag behind nuclei in 2D materials could pave way for novel electronics
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One of the great successes of 20th-century physics was the quantum mechanical description of solids. This allowed scientists to understand for the first time how and why certain materials conduct electric current and how these properties could be purposefully modified. For instance, semiconductors such as silicon could be used to produce transistors, which revolutionized electronics and made modern computers possible.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-electrons-lag-nuclei-2d-materials.html
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Space & Physics
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6c823b17022f44859bbef5a390b7887c25c1046c68cdadc08ddbf8403733474e
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2026-01-06T10:13:32
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Solving quantum computing's longstanding 'no cloning' problem with an encryption workaround
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A team of researchers at the University of Waterloo have made a breakthrough in quantum computing that elegantly bypasses the fundamental "no cloning" problem. The research, "Encrypted Qubits can be Cloned," appears in Physical Review Letters.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-quantum-longstanding-cloning-problem-encryption.html
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Space & Physics
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c8859909bdc6cb50ffc0ebaa96c7ee4061a61abcc947eba8a5cf5bf4bdf033f9
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2026-01-06T09:48:41
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Error-correction technology to turn quantum computing into real-world power
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Ripples spreading across a calm lake after raindrops fall—and the way ripples from different drops overlap and travel outward—is one image that helps us picture how a quantum computer handles information.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-error-technology-quantum-real-world.html
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Space & Physics
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cf48dc6a3e47b64e5858ab69afdb8750e94e3ebcd26d9924a4581e56c024b067
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2026-01-06T09:22:04
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New framework unifies space and time in quantum systems
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Quantum mechanics and relativity are the two pillars of modern physics. However, for over a century, their treatment of space and time has remained fundamentally disconnected. Relativity unifies space and time into a single fabric called spacetime, describing it seamlessly. In contrast, traditional quantum theory employs different languages: quantum states (density matrix) for spatial systems and quantum channels for temporal evolution.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-framework-space-quantum.html
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Space & Physics
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6c6b08ac2769e014af5418703db16bb34d97bbe848af7b078b21cdd985cd5507
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2026-01-06T09:18:34
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Researchers build plasma accelerator that boosts electron energy and brightness at the same time
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Researchers from the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), have designed innovative technology that can generate both high-energy and high-brightness electron bunches in an accelerator that is a fraction of the size of current particle accelerators.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-plasma-boosts-electron-energy-brightness.html
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Space & Physics
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0a0fffe315ae08e38cfdecc1fb8fc5d0a5541b73109f5089a52b36cac3adb690
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2026-01-05T15:57:31
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Worms as particle sweepers: How simple movement, not intelligence, drives environmental order
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When observing small worms under a microscope, one might observe something very surprising: the worms appear to make a sweeping motion to clean their own environment. Physicists at the University of Amsterdam, Georgia Tech and Sorbonne Université/CNRS have now discovered the reason for this unexpected behavior.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-worms-particle-sweepers-simple-movement.html
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Space & Physics
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e2a72f2bb3c1c14baca382c301b886ba745ce5d93b107ccbb6ae189a9d44be09
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2026-01-05T14:31:37
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Metal–metal bonded molecule achieves stable spin qubit state, opening path toward quantum computing materials
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Researchers at Kumamoto University, in collaboration with colleagues in South Korea and Taiwan, have discovered that a unique cobalt-based molecule with metal–metal bonds can function as a spin quantum bit (spin qubit)—a fundamental unit for future quantum computers. The findings provide a new design strategy for molecular materials used in quantum information technologies.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-metalmetal-bonded-molecule-stable-qubit.html
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Space & Physics
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9b89a460e44311197b217f3cd481c5b98bec91fb054842b5f0aae7a73c131619
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2026-01-05T10:08:50
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Fault-tolerant quantum computing: Novel protocol efficiently reduces resource cost
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Quantum computers, systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, could soon outperform classical computers on some complex computational problems. These computers rely on qubits, units of quantum information that share states with each other via a quantum mechanical effect known as entanglement.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-fault-tolerant-quantum-protocol-efficiently.html
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Space & Physics
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a921bce6cc434fb8100d616f81a1e75bd9734bbae3ecc64290b01e5ec5c2bb8a
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2026-01-05T08:32:51
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Making sense of quantum gravity in five dimensions
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Quantum theory and Einstein's theory of general relativity are two of the greatest successes in modern physics. Each works extremely well in its own domain: Quantum theory explains how atoms and particles behave, while general relativity describes gravity and the structure of spacetime. However, despite many decades of effort, scientists still do not have a satisfying theory that combines both into one clear picture of reality.
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https://phys.org/news/2026-01-quantum-gravity-dimensions.html
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Space & Physics
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20351bf607fe176bc1eb3591e6c6add8ba816489eb3da3db2291fdd5dbb21c7b
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2026-01-06T20:28:28
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Quantum structured light could transform secure communication and computing
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Scientists are learning to engineer light in rich, multidimensional ways that dramatically increase how much information a single photon can carry. This leap could make quantum communication more secure, quantum computers more efficient, and sensors far more sensitive. Recent advances have turned what was once an experimental curiosity into compact, chip-based technologies with real-world potential. Researchers say the field is hitting a turning point where impact may soon follow discovery.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001911.htm
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Space & Physics
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1a836972ea635c2d39458737008731bb5692013aba93ddaef51f4ef2b1447443
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2026-01-06T02:14:34
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Tiny 3D-printed light cages could unlock the quantum internet
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A new chip-based quantum memory uses nanoprinted “light cages” to trap light inside atomic vapor, enabling fast, reliable storage of quantum information. The structures can be fabricated with extreme precision and filled with atoms in days instead of months. Multiple memories can operate side by side on a single chip, all performing nearly identically. The result is a powerful, scalable building block for future quantum communication and computing.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001907.htm
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Space & Physics
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svg
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54fb546e8aa1035d9f1c5608a2aeb8c949feaea8e5c5a65a69821a60fc4cb453
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2026-01-05T01:36:16
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A missing flash of light revealed a molecular secret
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Scientists have found a way to see ultrafast molecular interactions inside liquids using an extreme laser technique once thought impossible for fluids. When they mixed nearly identical chemicals, one combination behaved strangely—producing less light and erasing a single harmonic signal altogether. Simulations revealed that a subtle molecular “handshake” was interfering with electron motion. The discovery shows that liquids can briefly organize in ways that dramatically change how electrons behave.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260104202734.htm
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Space & Physics
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d2d980a3d8f07041223bd4da6308ba04c339c565905c6fa7ed16b32a3f8c3a70
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2026-01-05T00:11:59
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Physicists found hidden order in violent proton collisions
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Inside high-energy proton collisions, quarks and gluons briefly form a dense, boiling state before cooling into ordinary particles. Researchers expected this transition to change how disordered the system is, but LHC data tell a different story. A newly improved collision model matches experiments better than older ones and reveals that the “entropy” remains unchanged throughout the process. This unexpected result turns out to be a direct fingerprint of quantum mechanics at work.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260104202125.htm
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Space & Physics
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svg
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47021d386a86f2a0cb6ad55dcaf7a92eecb5361256c1d60101da10163bc90b6e
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2026-01-04T07:25:59
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A simple chemistry trick could end forever plastic
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Seeing plastic trash while hiking inspired a Rutgers chemist to rethink why synthetic plastics last forever while natural polymers don’t. By mimicking tiny structural features used in DNA and proteins, researchers designed plastics that remain durable but can be triggered to fall apart naturally. The breakdown speed can be precisely tuned, from days to years, or switched on with light or simple chemical signals. The discovery could reshape everything from food packaging to medicine delivery.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260103155038.htm
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Space & Physics
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c186f7bbb2b19052dbbb40b766d5075fe15187e8315a1dfecc5f9c624051e0fe
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2026-01-04T17:22:31
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China’s “artificial sun” just broke a fusion limit scientists thought was unbreakable
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Researchers using China’s “artificial sun” fusion reactor have broken through a long-standing density barrier in fusion plasma. The experiment confirmed that plasma can remain stable even at extreme densities if its interaction with the reactor walls is carefully controlled. This finding removes a major obstacle that has slowed progress toward fusion ignition. The advance could help future fusion reactors produce more power.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260101160855.htm
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Space & Physics
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svg
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e2ab3fc4f70552d3901479672ac6e0cea904da0574ba45b3341c602bc78fd5a4
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2026-01-07T09:00:35+00:00
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Physicists overcome ‘acoustic collapse’ to levitate multiple objects with sound
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Sound waves can make small objects hover in the air, but applying this acoustic levitation technique to an array of objects is difficult because the objects tend to clump together. Physicists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have now overcome this problem thanks to hybrid structures that emerge from the interplay between attractive acoustic forces and repulsive electrostatic ones. By proving that it is possible to levitate many particles while keeping them separated, the finding could pave the way for advances in acoustic-levitation-assisted 3D printing, mid-air chemical synthesis and micro-robotics. In acoustic levitation, particles ranging in size from tens of microns to millimetres are drawn up into the air and confined by an acoustic force. The origins of this force lie in the momentum that the applied acoustic field transfers to a particle as sound waves scatter off its surface. While the technique works well for single particles, multiple particles tend to aggregate into a single dense object in mid-air because the acoustic forces they scatter can, collectively, create an attractive interaction between them. Led by Scott Waitukaitis, the ISTA researchers found a way to avoid this so-called “acoustic collapse” by using a tuneable repulsive electrostatic force to counteract the attractive acoustic one. They began by levitating a single silver-coated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microsphere 250‒300 µm in diameter above a reflector plate coated with a transparent and conductive layer of indium tin oxide (ITO). They then imbued the particle with a precisely controlled amount of electrical charge by letting it rest on the ITO plate with the acoustic field off, but with a high-voltage DC potential applied between the plate and a transducer. This produces a capacitive build-up of charge on the particle, and the amount of charge can be estimated from Maxwell’s solutions for two contacting conductive spheres (assuming, in the calculations, that the lower plate acts like a sphere with infinite radius). The next step in the process is to switch on the acoustic field and, after just 10 ms, add the electric field to it. During the short period in which both fields are on, and provided the electric field is strong enough, either field is capable of launching the particle towards the centre of the levitation setup. The electric fields is then switched off. A few seconds later, the particle levitates stably in the trap, with a charge given, in principle, by Maxwell’s approximations. This charging method works equally well for multiple particles, allowing the researchers to load particles into the trap with high efficiency and virtually any charge they want, limited only by the breakdown voltage of the surrounding air. Indeed, the physicists found they could tune the charge to levitate particles separately or collapse them into a single, dense object. They could even create hybrid states that mix separated and collapsed particles. And that wasn’t all. According to team member Sue Shi, a PhD student at ISTA and the lead author of a paper in PNAS about the research, the most exciting moment came when they saw the compact parts of the hybrid structures spontaneously begin to rotate, while the expanded parts remained in one place while oscillating in response to the rotation. The result was “a visually mesmerizing dance,” Shi says, adding that “this is the first time that such acoustically and electrostatically coupled interactions have been observed in an acoustically levitated system.” As well as having applications in areas such as materials science and micro-robotics, Shi says the technique developed in this work could be used to study non-reciprocal effects that lead to the particles rotating or oscillating. “This would pave the way for understanding more elusive and complex non-reciprocal forces and many-body interactions that likely influence the behaviours of our system,” Shi tells Physics World. The post Physicists overcome ‘acoustic collapse’ to levitate multiple objects with sound appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/physicists-overcome-acoustic-collapse-to-levitate-multiple-objects-with-sound/
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Space & Physics
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34f07dba70963a9779446fb8b7aadfdb4f7f2ac219a90bafe398c7a1e0701ccc
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2026-01-07T08:30:17+00:00
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When heat moves sideways
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Heat travels across a metal by the movement of electrons. However, in an insulator there are no free charge carriers; instead, vibrations in the atoms (phonons) move the heat from hot regions to cool regions in a straight path. In some materials, when a magnetic field is applied, the phonons begin to move sideways, this is known as the Phonon Hall Effect. Quantised collective excitations of the spin structure, called magnons, can also do this via the Magnon Hall Effect. A combined effect occurs when magnons and phonons strongly interact and traverse sideways in the Magnon–Polaron Hall Effect. Scientists understand the quantum mechanical property known as Berry curvature that causes this transverse heat flow. Yet in some materials, the effect is greater than what Berry curvature alone can explain. In this research, an exceptionally large thermal Hall effect is recorded in MnPS₃, an insulating antiferromagnetic material with strong magnetoelastic coupling and a spin-flop transition. The thermal Hall angle remains large down to 4 K and cannot be accounted for by standard Berry curvature-based models. This work provides an in-depth analysis of the role of the spin-flop transition in MnPS₃’s thermal properties and highlights the need for new theoretical approaches to understand magnon–phonon coupling and scattering. Materials with large thermal Hall effects could be used to control heat in nanoscale devices such as thermal diodes and transistors. Large thermal Hall effect in MnPS3 Mohamed Nawwar et al 2025 Rep. Prog. Phys. 88 080503 Do you want to learn more about this topic? Quantum-Hall physics and three dimensions Johannes Gooth, Stanislaw Galeski and Tobias Meng (2023) The post When heat moves sideways appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/when-heat-moves-sideways/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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d6e4ff8392c824755be50419eed6a0e84ea2b49de60d6e8b7f8696e3a1f0baf3
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2026-01-07T08:29:08+00:00
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Symmetry‑preserving route to higher‑order insulators
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Topological insulators are materials that are insulating in the bulk within the bandgap, yet exhibit conductive states on their surface at frequencies within that same bandgap. These surface states are topologically protected, meaning they cannot be easily disrupted by local perturbations. In general, a material of n‑dimensions can host n‑1-dimensional topological boundary states. If the symmetry protecting these states is further broken, a bandgap can open between the n-1-dimensional states, enabling the emergence of n-2-dimensional topological states. For example, a 3D material can host 2D protected surface states, and breaking additional symmetry can create a bandgap between these surface states, allowing for protected 1D edge states. A material undergoing such a process is said to exhibit a phenomenon known as a higher-order topological insulator. In general, higher-order topological states appear in dimensions one lower than the parent topological phase due to the further unit-cell symmetry reduction. This requires at least a 2D lattice for second-order states, with the maximal order in 3D systems being three. The researchers here introduce a new method for repeatedly opening the bandgap between topological states and generating new states within those gaps in an unbounded manner – without breaking symmetries or reducing dimensions. Their approach creates hierarchical topological insulators by repositioning domain walls between different topological regions. This process opens bandgaps between original topological states while preserving symmetry, enabling the formation of new hierarchical states within the gaps. Using one‑ and two‑dimensional Su–Schrieffer–Heeger models, they show that this procedure can be repeated to generate multiple, even infinite, hierarchical levels of topological states, exhibiting fractal-like behavior reminiscent of a Matryoshka doll. These higher-level states are characterized by a generalized winding number that extends conventional topological classification and maintains bulk-edge correspondence across hierarchies. The researchers confirm the existence of second‑ and third-level domain‑wall and edge states and demonstrate that these states remain robust against perturbations. Their approach is scalable to higher dimensions and applicable not only to quantum systems but also to classical waves such as phononics. This broadens the definition of topological insulators and provides a flexible way to design complex networks of protected states. Such networks could enable advances in electronics, photonics, and phonon‑based quantum information processing, as well as engineered structures for vibration control. The ability to design complex, robust, and tunable hierarchical topological states could lead to new types of waveguides, sensors, and quantum devices that are more fault-tolerant and programmable. Hierarchical topological states without dimension reduction Joel R Pyfrom et al 2025 Rep. Prog. Phys. 88 118003 Do you want to learn more about this topic? Interacting topological insulators: a review by Stephan Rachel (2018) The post Symmetry‑preserving route to higher‑order insulators appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/symmetry%e2%80%91preserving-route-to-higher%e2%80%91order-insulators/
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Space & Physics
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28f9f1aa3aa46ef0eeb8af9cb91bb9d8599fb3d123406c55a633a21e6f239ccf
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2026-01-06T15:00:44+00:00
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New hybrid state of matter is a mix of solid and liquid
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The boundary between a substance’s liquid and solid phases may not be as clear-cut as previously believed. A new state of matter that is a hybrid of both has emerged in research by scientists at the University of Nottingham, UK and the University of Ulm, Germany, and they say the discovery could have applications in catalysis and other thermally-activated processes. In liquids, atoms move rapidly, sliding over and around each other in a random fashion. In solids, they are fixed in place. The transition between the two states, solidification, occurs when random atomic motion transitions to an ordered crystalline structure. At least, that’s what we thought. Thanks to a specialist microscopy technique, researchers led by Nottingham’s Andrei Khlobystov found that this simple picture isn’t entirely accurate. In fact, liquid metal nanoparticles can contain stationary atoms – and as the liquid cools, their number and position play a significant role in solidification. The team used a method called spherical and chromatic aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (Cc/Cs-corrected HRTEM) at the low-voltage SALVE instrument at Ulm to study melted metal nanoparticles (such as platinum, gold and palladium) deposited on an atomically thin layer of graphene. This carbon-based material acted a sort of “hob” for heating the particles, says team member Christopher Leist, who was in charge of the HRTEM experiments. “As they melted, the atoms in the nanoparticles began to move rapidly, as expected,” Leist says. “To our surprise, however, we found that some atoms remained stationary.” At high temperatures, these static atoms bind strongly to point defects in the graphene support. When the researchers used the electron beam from the transmission microscope to increase the number of these defects, the number of stationary atoms within the liquid increased, too. Khlobystov says that this had a knock-on effect on how the liquid solidified: when the stationary atoms are few in number, a crystal forms directly from the liquid and continues to grow until the entire particle has solidified. When their numbers increase, the crystallization process cannot take place and no crystals form. “The effect is particularly striking when stationary atoms create a ring (corral) that surrounds and confines the liquid,” he says. “In this unique state, the atoms within the liquid droplet are in motion, while the atoms forming the corral remain motionless, even at temperatures well below the freezing point of the liquid.” The researchers chose to use Cc/Cs-corrected HRTEM in their study because minimizing spherical and chromatic aberrations through specialized hardware installed on the microscope enabled them to resolve single atoms in their images. “Additionally, we can control both the energy of the electron beam and the sample temperature (the latter using MEMS-heated chip technology),” Khlobystov explains. “As a result, we can study metal samples at temperatures of up to 800 °C, even in a molten state, without sacrificing atomic resolution. We can therefore observe atomic behaviour during crystallization while actively manipulating the environment around the metal particles using the electron beam or by cooling the particles. This level of detail under such extreme conditions is unprecedented.” The Nottingham-Ulm researchers, who report their work in ACS Nano, say they obtained their results by chance while working on an EPSRC-funded project on 1-2 nm metal particles for catalysis applications. “Our approach involves assembling catalysts from individual metal atoms, utilizing on-surface phenomena to control their assembly and dynamics,” explains Khlobystov. “To gain this control, we needed to investigate the behaviour of metal atoms at varying temperatures and within different local environments on a support material. “We suspected that the interplay between vacancy defects in the support and the sample temperature creates a powerful mechanism for controlling the size and structure of the metal particles,” he tells Physics World. “Indeed, this study revealed the fundamental mechanisms behind this process with atomic precision.” The experiments were far from easy, he recalls, with one of the key challenges being to identify a thin, robust and thermally conductive support material for the metal. Happily, graphene meets all these criteria. “Another significant hurdle to overcome was to be able to control the number of defect sites surrounding each particle,” he adds. “We successfully accomplished this by using the TEM’s electron beam not just as an imaging tool, but also as a means to modify the environment around the particles by creating defects.” The researchers say they would now like to explore whether the effect can be harnessed for catalysis. To do this, Khlobystov says it will be essential to improve control over defect production and its scale. “We also want to image the corralled particles in a gas environment to understand how the phenomenon is influenced by reaction conditions, since our present measurements were conducted in a vacuum,” he adds. The post New hybrid state of matter is a mix of solid and liquid appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/new-hybrid-state-of-matter-is-a-mix-of-solid-and-liquid/
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Space & Physics
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06f22da2efc95286b17a2b80c0081f6036b608fa83f3ca90adb02a40b08e374d
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2026-01-06T11:00:16+00:00
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A theoretical physicist’s journey through the food and drink industry
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Rob Farr is a theorist and computer modeller whose career has taken him down an unconventional path. He studied physics at the University of Cambridge, UK, from 1991 to 1994, staying on to do a PhD in statistical physics. But while many of his contemporaries then went into traditional research fields – such as quantum science, high-energy physics and photonic technologies – Farr got a taste for the food and drink manufacturing industry. It’s a multidisciplinary field in which Farr has worked for more than 25 years. As a theoretical physicist working in industrial-scale food production, Farr’s focus has always been on the materials science of the end-product and how it gets processed. “Put simply,” says Farr, “that means making production as efficient as possible – regarding both energy and materials use – while developing ‘new customer experiences’ in terms of food taste, texture and appearance.” One tasty multiphysics problem that preoccupied Farr for a good chunk of his time at Unilever is ice cream. It is a hugely complex material that Farr likens to a high-temperature ceramic, in the sense that the crystalline part of it is stored very near to the melting point of ice. “Equally, the non-ice phase contains fats,” he says, “so there’s all sorts of emulsion physics and surface science to take into consideration.” Ice cream also has polymers in the mix, so theoretical modelling needs to incorporate the complex physics of polymer–polymer phase separation as well as polymer flow, or “rheology”, which contributes to the product’s texture and material properties. “Air is another significant component of ice cream,” adds Farr, “which means it’s a foam as well as an emulsion.” As well as trying to understand how all these subcomponents interact, there’s also the thorny issue of storage. After it’s produced, ice cream is typically kept at low temperatures of about –25 °C – first in the factory, then in transit and finally in a supermarket freezer. But once that tub of salted-caramel or mint choc chip reaches a consumer’s home, it’s likely to be popped in the ice compartment of a fridge freezer at a much milder –6 or –7 °C. Manufacturers therefore need to control how those temperature transitions affect the recrystallization of ice. This unwanted outcome can lead to phenomena like “sintering” (which makes a harder product) and “ripening” (which can lead to big ice crystals that can be detected in the mouth and detract from the creamy texture). “Basically, the whole panoply of soft-matter physics comes into play across the production, transport and storage of ice cream,” says Farr. “Figuring out what sort of materials systems will lead to better storage stability or a more consistent product texture are non-trivial questions given that the global market for ice cream is worth in excess of €100bn annually.” The overlap is evident, for example, in how instant coffee gets freeze-dried – a low-temperature dehydration process that manufacturers use to extend the shelf-life of perishable materials and make them easier to transport. In the case of coffee, freeze drying (or lyophilization, as it’s commonly known) also helps to retain flavour and aromas. If you want to study a parameter space that’s not been explored before, the only way to do that is to simulate the core processes using fundamental physics After roasting and grinding the raw coffee beans, manufacturers extract a coffee concentrate using high pressure and water. This extract is then frozen, ground up and placed in a vacuum well below 0 °C. A small amount of heat is applied to sublime the ice away and remove the remaining water from the non-ice phase. The quality of the resulting freeze-dried instant coffee is better than ordinary instant coffee. However, freeze-drying is also a complex and expensive process, which manufacturers seek to fine-tune by implementing statistical methods to optimize, for example, the amount of energy consumed during production. Such approaches involve interpolating the gaps between existing experimental data sets, which is where a physics mind-set comes in. “If you want to study a parameter space that’s not been explored before,” says Farr, “the only way to do that is to simulate the core processes using fundamental physics.” Beyond the production line, Farr has also sought to make coffee more stable when it’s stored at home. Sustainability is the big driver here: JDE Peet’s has committed to make all its packaging compostable, recyclable or reusable by 2030. “Shelf-life prediction has been a big part of this R&D initiative,” he explains. “The work entails using materials science and the physics of mass transfer to develop next-generation packaging and container systems.” After eight years unpacking the secrets of coffee physics at JDE Peet’s, Farr was given the option to relocate to the Netherlands in mid-2025 as part of a wider reorganization of the manufacturer’s corporate R&D function. However, he decided to stay put in Oxford and is now deciding between another role in the food manufacturing sector, or moving into a new area of research, such as nuclear energy, or even education. Farr believes he gained a lot from his time at JDE Peet’s. As well as studying a wide range of physics problems, he also benefited from the company’s rigorous approach to R&D, whereby projects are regularly assessed for profitability and quickly killed off if they don’t make the cut. Such prioritization avoids wasted effort and investment, but it also demands agility from staff scientists, who have to build long-term research strategies against a project landscape in constant flux. A senior scientist needs to be someone who colleagues come to informally to discuss their technical challenges To thrive in that setting, Farr says collaboration and an open mind are essential. “A senior scientist needs to be someone who colleagues come to informally to discuss their technical challenges,” he says. “You can then find the scientific question which underpins seemingly disparate problems and work with colleagues to deliver commercially useful solutions.” For Farr, it’s a self-reinforcing dynamic. “As more people come to you, the more helpful you become – and I love that way of working.” What Farr calls “line-of-sight” is another unique feature of industrial R&D in food materials. “Maybe you’re only building one span of a really long bridge,” he notes, “but when you can see the process end-to-end, as well as your part in in it, that is a fantastic motivator.” Indeed, Farr believes that for physicists who want a job doing something useful, the physics of food materials makes a great career. “There are,” he concludes, “no end of intriguing and challenging research questions.” The post A theoretical physicist’s journey through the food and drink industry appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/a-theoretical-physicists-journey-through-the-food-and-drink-industry/
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Space & Physics
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117a66c5963d5cb7cc0de68456d18ec782c57fdc7a2e2c24016561ea99091450
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2026-01-06T09:00:15+00:00
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Quantum photonics network passes a scaling-up milestone
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Physicists in the UK have succeeded in routing and teleporting entangled states of light between two four-user quantum networks – an important milestone in the development of scalable quantum communications. Led by Mehul Malik and Natalia Herrera Valencia of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, the team achieved this milestone thanks to a new method that uses light-scattering processes in an ordinary optical fibre to program a circuit. This approach, which is radically different from conventional methods based on photonic chips, allows the circuit to function as a programmable entanglement router that can implement several different network configurations on demand. The team performed the experiments using commercially-available optical fibres, which are multi-mode structures that scatter light via random linear optical processes. In simple terms, Herrera Valencia explains that this means the light tends to ricochet chaotically through the fibres along hundreds of internal pathways. While this effect can scramble entanglement, researchers at the Institut Langevin in Paris, France had previously found that the scrambling can be calculated by analysing how the fibre transmits light. What is more, the light-scattering processes in such a medium can be harnessed to make programmable optical circuits – which is exactly what Malik, Herrera Valencia and colleagues did. The researchers explain that this “top-down” approach simplifies the circuit’s architecture because it separates the layer where the light is controlled from the layer in which it is mixed. Using waveguides for transporting and manipulating the quantum states of light also reduces optical losses. The result is a reconfigurable multi-port device that can distribute quantum entanglement between many users simultaneously in multiple patterns, switching between different channels (local connections, global connections or both) as required. A further benefit is that the channels can be multiplexed, allowing many quantum processors to access the system at the same time. The researchers say this is similar to multiplexing in classical telecommunications networks, which makes it possible to send huge amounts of data through a single optical fibre using different wavelengths of light. Although controlling and distributing entangled states of light is key for quantum networks, Malik says it comes with several challenges. One of these is that conventional methods based on photonics chips cannot be scaled up easily. They are also very sensitive to imperfections in how they’re made. In contrast, the waveguide-based approach developed by the Heriot-Watt team “opens up access to a large number of modes, providing significant improvements in terms of achievable circuit size, quality and loss,” Malik tells Physics World, adding that the approach also fits naturally with existing optical fibre infrastructures. Gaining control over the complex scattering process inside a waveguide was not easy, though. “The main challenge was the learning curve and understanding how to control quantum states of light inside such a complex medium,” Herrera Valencia recalls. “It took time and iteration, but we now have the precise and reconfigurable control required for reliable entanglement distribution, and even more so for entanglement swapping, which is essential for scalable networks.” While the Heriot-Watt team used the technique to demonstrate flexible quantum networking, Malik and Herrera Valencia say it might also be used for implementing large-scale photonic circuits. Such circuits could have many applications, ranging from machine learning to quantum computing and networking, they add. Looking ahead, the researchers, who report their work in Nature Photonics, say they are now aiming to explore larger-scale circuits that can operate on more photons and light modes. “We would also like to take some of our network technology out of the laboratory and into the real world,” says Malik, adding that Herrera Valencia is leading a commercialization effort in that direction. The post Quantum photonics network passes a scaling-up milestone appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-photonics-network-passes-a-scaling-up-milestone/
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Space & Physics
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07fd359519e2ba50b5ec34d33e0c6650946526b559e7a8a9acfdb8dfc150582b
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2026-01-05T14:00:58+00:00
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Band-aid like wearable sensor continuously monitors foetal movement
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The ability to continuously monitor and interpret foetal movement patterns in the third trimester of a pregnancy could help detect any potential complications and improve foetal wellbeing. Currently, however, such assessment of foetal movement is performed only periodically, with an ultrasound exam at a hospital or clinic. A lightweight, easily wearable, adhesive patch-based sensor developed by engineers and obstetricians at Monash University in Australia may change this. The patches, two of which are worn on the abdomen, can detect foetal movements such as kicking, waving, hiccups, breathing, twitching, and head and trunk motion. Reduced foetal movement can be associated with potential impairment in the central nervous system and musculoskeletal system, and is a common feature observed in pregnancies that end in foetal death and stillbirth. A foetus compromised in utero may reduce movements as a compensatory strategy to lower oxygen consumption and conserve energy. To help identify foetuses at risk of complications, the Monash team developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered wearable pressure–strain combo sensor system that continuously and accurately detects foetal movement-induced motion in the mother’s abdominal skin. As reported in Science Advances, the “band-aid”-like sensors can discriminate between foetal and non-foetal movement with over 90% accuracy. The system comprises two soft, thin and flexible patches designed to conform to the abdomen of a pregnant woman. One patch incorporates an octagonal gold nanowire-based strain sensor (the “Octa” sensor), the other is an interdigitated electrode-based pressure sensor. The patches feature a soft polyimide-based flexible printed circuit (FPC) that integrates a thin lithium polymer battery and various integrated circuit chips, including a Bluetooth radiofrequency system for reading the sensor’s electrical resistance, storing data and communicating with a smartphone app. Each patch is encapsulated with kinesiology tape and sticks to the abdomen using a medical double-sided silicone adhesive. The Octa sensor is attached to a separate FPC connector attached to the primary device, enabling easy replacement after each study. The pressure sensor is mounted on the silicone adhesive, to connect with the interdigitated electrode beneath the primary device. The Octa and pressure sensor patches are lightweight (about 3 g) and compact, measuring 63 x 30 x 4 mm and 62 x 28 x 2 mm, respectively. The researchers validated their foetal movement monitoring system via comparison with simultaneous ultrasound exams, examining 59 healthy pregnant women at Monash Health. Each participant had the pressure sensor attached to the area of their abdomen where they felt the most vigorous foetal movements, typically in the lower quadrant, while the strain sensor was attached to the region closest to foetal limbs. An accelerometer placed on the participant’s chest captured non-foetal movement data for signal denoising and training the machine-learning model. Principal investigator Wenlong Cheng, now at the University of Sydney, and colleagues report that “the wearable strain sensor featured isotropic omnidirectional sensitivity, enabling detection of maternal abdominal [motion] over a large area, whereas the wearable pressure sensor offered high sensitivity with a small domain, advantageous for accurate localized foetal movement detection”. The researchers note that the pressure sensor demonstrated higher sensitivity to movements directly beneath it compared with motion farther away, while the Octa sensor performed consistently across a wider sensing area. “The combination of both sensor types resulted in a substantial performance enhancement, yielding an overall AUROC [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve] accuracy of 92.18% in binary detection of foetal movement, illustrating the potential of combining diverse sensing modalities to achieve more accurate and reliable monitoring outcomes,” they write. In a press statement, co-author Fae Marzbanrad explains that the device’s strength lies in a combination of soft sensing materials, intelligent signal processing and AI. “Different foetal movements create distinct strain patterns on the abdominal surface, and these are captured by the two sensors,” she says. “The machine-learning system uses the signals to detect when movement occurs while cancelling maternal movements.” The lightweight and flexible device can be worn by pregnant women for long periods without disrupting daily life. “By integrating sensor data with AI, the system automatically captures a wider range of foetal movements than existing wearable concepts while staying compact and comfortable,” Marzbanrad adds. The next steps towards commercialization of the sensors will include large-scale clinical studies in out-of-hospital settings, to evaluate foetal movements and investigate the relationship between movement patterns and pregnancy complications. The post Band-aid like wearable sensor continuously monitors foetal movement appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/band-aid-like-wearable-sensor-continuously-monitors-foetal-movement/
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Space & Physics
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da408aa92302761006ba4d0354dc990b07a122d378d539ef91fdf6a7cdb7f2da
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2026-01-05T12:27:49+00:00
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Unlocking novel radiation beams for cancer treatment with upright patient positioning
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Since the beginning of radiation therapy, almost all treatments have been delivered with the patient lying on a table while the beam rotates around them. But a resurgence in upright patient positioning is changing that paradigm. Novel radiation accelerators such as proton therapy, VHEE, and FLASH therapy are often too large to rotate around the patient, making access limited. By instead rotating the patient, these previously hard-to-access beams could now become mainstream in the future. Join leading clinicians and experts as they discuss how this shift in patient positioning is enabling exploration of new treatment geometries and supporting the development of advanced future cancer therapies. Serdar Charyyev – Proton Therapy – Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine Eric Deutsch – VHEE FLASH – Head of Radiotherapy at Gustave Roussy Bill Loo – FLASH Photons – Professor of Radiation Oncology at Stanford Medicine Rock Mackie – Emeritus Professor at University of Wisconsin and Co-Founder and Chairman of Leo Cancer Care The post Unlocking novel radiation beams for cancer treatment with upright patient positioning appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/unlocking-novel-radiation-beams-for-cancer-treatment-with-upright-patient-positioning/
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Space & Physics
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a6bb778a612c365e5225ff0527f1303b8053c2ab718d8293d3298ecf1c5d0a00
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2026-01-05T11:00:09+00:00
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Ask me anything: Andrew Lamb – ‘Being flexible and curious matters far more than having everything mapped out from the beginning’
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A quantum sensor is a combination of lots of different parts working together in harmony: a sensor head containing the atoms and isolating them from the environment; a laser system to probe the quantum structure and manipulate atomic states; electronics to drive the power and timing of a device; and software to control everything and interpret the data. As the person building, developing and maintaining these devices you need to have expertise across all these areas. In addition to these skills, as the CTO my role also requires me to set the company’s technical priorities, determine the focus of R&D activities and act as the top technical authority in the firm. In a developing field like quantum metrology, evidence-based decision making is crucial as you critically assess information, disregarding what is irrelevant and making an informed choice – especially when the “right answer” may not be obvious for months or even years. Challenges arise that may never have been solved before, and the best way to do so is to dive deep into the “why and how” something happens. Once the root cause is identified a creative solution then needs to be found; whether it is something brand new, or implementing an approach from an entirely different discipline. The best thing about my job is the way in which it enables me to grow my knowledge and understanding of a wide variety of fields, while also providing me opportunities for creative problem solving. When you surround yourself with people who are experts in their field, there is no end to the opportunities to learn. Before co-founding Delta.g I was a researcher at the University of Birmingham where I learnt my technical skills. Moving into a start-up, we built a multidisciplinary team to address the operational, regulatory and technical barriers to establish a disruptive product in the marketplace. The diversity created within our company has afforded a greater pool of experts to learn from. As the CTO, my role sits at the intersection of the technical and the commercial within the business. That means it is my responsibility to translate commercial milestones into a scientific plan, while also explaining our progress to non-experts. This can be challenging and quite stressful at times – particularly when I need to describe our scientific achievements in a way that truly reflects our advances, while still being accessible. For a long time, I didn’t know what direction I wanted to take, and I used to worry that the lack of a clear purpose would hold me back. Today I know that it doesn’t. Instead of fixating on finding a perfect path early on, it’s far more valuable to focus on developing skills that open doors. Whether those skills are technical, managerial or commercial, no knowledge is ever wasted. I’m still surprised by how often something I learned as far back as GCSE ends up being useful in my work now. I also wish I had understood just how important it is to stay open to new opportunities. Looking back, every pivotal point in my career – switching from civil engineering to a physics degree, choosing certain undergraduate modules, applying for unexpected roles, even co-founding Delta.g – came from being willing to make a shift when an opportunity appeared. Being flexible and curious matters far more than having everything mapped out from the beginning. The post Ask me anything: Andrew Lamb – ‘Being flexible and curious matters far more than having everything mapped out from the beginning’ appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/ask-me-anything-andrew-lamb-being-flexible-and-curious-matters-far-more-than-having-everything-mapped-out-from-the-beginning/
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85e5f3ed06ae81c8e80ae9dbc34f3fc392f11e9c588e4255b48c2c3c67ff01e0
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2026-01-06T23:00:00+00:00
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Hubble Telescope spies 'wake' of supergiant Beutelgeuse's hidden companion star
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Using new observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and observatories on Earth, scientists have confirmed the existence of Betelgeuse's elusive companion star, named Siwarha.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/hubble-telescope-spies-wake-of-supergiant-beutelgeuses-hidden-companion-star
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Space & Physics
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d3e572effb7ed7c55d8d14f4be430f681826f75cbe9c396fe0a06837feb3d363
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2026-01-06T22:00:00+00:00
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SpaceX stacks Super Heavy booster ahead of Starship megarocket's 12th test flight
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SpaceX recently stacked the giant Super Heavy booster that will help launch the upcoming 12th test flight of the company's Starship megarocket.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-stacks-super-heavy-booster-ahead-of-starship-megarockets-12th-test-flight
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Space & Physics
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d0cce64e3f995b3a1cd92f79ce4cf30331aba21185dce843e9167fb98aeacfa9
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2026-01-06T21:00:00+00:00
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Saros: Release date, trailers, and everything we know about PlayStation's next sci-fi adventure
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Roguelite structure, mysterious narrative, and breakneck third-person shooter action come together once again in Housemarque's Saros.
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https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/saros-release-date-trailers-and-everything-we-know-about-playstations-next-sci-fi-adventure
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Space & Physics
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c7b3e59cde28b9325acbc3437efa22cfd0095a8caf329bc3bbe80681cb3366eb
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2026-01-06T20:00:00+00:00
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NASA's Curiosity rover sends stunning new panorama from high on Mars' Mount Sharp
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NASA's Curiosity rover has sent back a striking new "postcard" from high on the slopes of Mount Sharp, offering a dramatic look at the rugged Martian landscape it's been exploring for more than a decade.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/mars-rovers/nasas-curiosity-rover-sends-stunning-new-panorama-from-high-on-mars-mount-sharp
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Space & Physics
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eca1f6001ee475fd0319bda704ba12c2f9afb87cf10e62cfd6257bb7be3c8e46
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2026-01-06T19:00:00+00:00
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Hubble telescope discovers a new type of cosmic object and astronomers are on 'Cloud 9'
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"This is a tale of a failed galaxy."
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/hubble-telescope-discovers-a-new-type-of-cosmic-object-and-astronomers-are-on-cloud-9
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Space & Physics
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f1242c0805a46bfeaa1ad88c5480af65cc560ac10e0fe5092f8be969aa66b131
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2026-01-06T18:00:00+00:00
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NASA may be 1 month away from historic Artemis 2 astronaut launch around the moon
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Artemis 2, NASA's next astronaut mission to the moon, is gearing up for a launch that could occur as soon as Feb. 6.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/historic-artemis-2-moon-launch-may-be-just-1-month-away
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Space & Physics
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3c6c93d0dbcd52513a787f031cb8cb9378df9b90309c4c216aaf7d8b9921536e
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2026-01-06T17:00:00+00:00
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Venus reaches superior solar conjunction today: What does it mean and can you see it?
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A solar conjunction occurs as Venus' orbit carries it into alignment with the sun and Earth.
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https://www.space.com/stargazing/venus-reaches-solar-conjunction-jan-2026
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Space & Physics
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d91df2e8d000b6b510aefb1c04f185a9c819f1c71a581e5876e1c8084c57746b
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2026-01-06T16:00:00+00:00
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Congress rejects President Trump's deep NASA budget cuts, proposes $24.4 billion for the agency
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Congress plans to allocate $24.4 billion to NASA for fiscal year 2026, nearly $6 billion more than President Trump had proposed.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/congress-rejects-president-trumps-deep-nasa-budget-cuts-proposes-usd24-4-billion-for-the-agency
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Space & Physics
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1f27a73c6bff1002efd6aeef864109531a1d57c85afa2170d0f7005255663174
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2026-01-06T15:00:00+00:00
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This Canadian crater looks like marbled meat | Space photo of the day for Jan. 6, 2026
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The reservoir seen in this image is sometimes referred to as the "eye of Quebec."
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/this-canadian-crater-looks-like-marbled-meat-space-photo-of-the-day-for-jan-6-2026
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Space & Physics
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af75a204d21936f6c56dad433f96de84ebba4b3b10d87d5a81a16e38f2c3e133
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2026-01-06T14:00:00+00:00
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Women who rewrote the stars: Test your knowledge of female astronomers
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From ancient stargazers to modern-day space scientists, women have shaped our understanding of the cosmos. This crossword celebrates their brilliance, resilience, and astronomical achievements.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/women-who-rewrote-the-stars-test-your-knowledge-of-female-astronomers
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Space & Physics
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ccbce7f280fd5091508e3975431514d956c385c07eb15540f060ee8edaaa2984
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2026-01-06T13:47:51+00:00
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Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS isn't an alien spacecraft, astronomers confirm. 'In the end, there were no surprises.'
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Bad news for those hoping interstellar invader 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft as technosignature search turns up empty.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/asteroids/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-isnt-an-alien-spacecraft-astronomers-confirm-in-the-end-there-were-no-surprises
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Space & Physics
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cc715a703da272e63a94211a3114bedd016b79dca3da6a730232d5ba289ed9a9
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2026-01-06T11:00:00+00:00
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China's next moonshot: Chang'e 7 could search the lunar south pole for water this year
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China's ice-hunting Chang'e 7 mission is scheduled to launch to the moon later this year, helping set the stage for a lunar base that the country aims to build in the 2030s.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/chinas-next-moonshot-change-could-search-the-lunar-south-pole-for-water-this-year
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Space & Physics
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5c3c0edecd4d48561a81ad2f91a1f571f67ee6fee2f0b3386d452e8810ad4b6d
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2026-01-05T23:00:00+00:00
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‘Space particle’ slams into Spain’s new communications satellite high above Earth
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Spain's latest military communications satellite suffered a debris impact while headed to its orbital destination. The extent of the damage is still unknown.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spains-newest-communications-satellite-suffers-space-particle-strike-high-above-earth
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Space & Physics
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74bb93299e46033dc933f3906aa978380f7e8fb982cbb2b286110bff134c4c9c
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2026-01-05T20:12:55+00:00
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Trump administration censures former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly over 'illegal orders' video
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The Department of Defense is taking administrative action against former NASA astronaut and current U.S. Senator Mark Kelly over remarks he made in a 90-second video in November.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/trump-administration-censures-former-nasa-astronaut-mark-kelly-over-illegal-orders-video
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Space & Physics
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6d7d879b9a7098215c1130d0a80caf5b0f92d5b585fc63050568f42ce1d237e7
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2026-01-05T20:00:00+00:00
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11 upcoming space and sci-fi games to be excited for in 2026
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We'll be battling aliens, surviving cosmic horrors, and conquering the stars in 2026 with these upcoming space and sci-fi games.
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https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/11-upcoming-space-and-sci-fi-games-to-be-excited-for-in-2026
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Space & Physics
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90224c7def4b30454e9fdf28ce1dbd2f1fff94b69bd43b9281a91800e303c33f
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2026-01-05T19:00:00+00:00
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'It would be a fundamental breakthrough': Mysterious dark matter may interact with cosmic 'ghost particles'
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"If this interaction between dark matter and neutrinos is confirmed, it would be a fundamental breakthrough."
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/dark-universe/it-would-be-a-fundamental-breakthrough-mysterious-dark-matter-may-interact-with-cosmic-ghost-particles
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Space & Physics
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79422772726d8b804b64ed93b1dec565bb3e0ee7d2073981fbedbdf7a3f7dc07
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2026-01-05T17:00:00+00:00
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The universe may be lopsided, new research says
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The shape of the universe is not something we often think about.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/the-universe-may-be-lopsided-new-research-says
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Space & Physics
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3de0100d6a3dd11c554e9c0d24278f27ae67b9ded3eafa0da0ecfa30abc6ad4d
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2026-01-05T16:00:00+00:00
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The 2026 'Super Bowl of Astronomy' starts today — here's what's happening
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Astronomers are gathering in Phoenix this week for the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS 247), where the latest discoveries from exoplanets, JWST and upcoming space missions will take center stage.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/the-2026-super-bowl-of-astronomy-starts-today-heres-whats-happening
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Space & Physics
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033878e3020864fb53ca190e1ddc64b08697d57c07badc87248ba4a6e63c8637
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2026-01-05T15:00:00+00:00
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Catch the moon dancing with bright star Regulus tonight
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Regulus is the brightest star in the zodiacal constellation Leo.
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https://www.space.com/stargazing/catch-the-moon-dancing-with-bright-star-regulus-jan-5-6-2026
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Space & Physics
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db5e3c4afebe997d5e9ca739b8a724bf43ee11652c257916df11c32e9f86797e
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2026-01-05T14:00:00+00:00
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How did life begin on Earth? New experiments support 'RNA world' hypothesis
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The new findings strengthen the "RNA world" hypothesis that describes how the first life on Earth could have used RNA instead of DNA.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/search-for-life/how-did-life-begin-on-earth-new-experiments-support-rna-world-hypothesis
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Space & Physics
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faf13813b7b996eb4e675179be54ad885163fb6db0f5cb333164e573ae393a48
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2026-01-05T13:11:36+00:00
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Carina Nebula shines with white-blue stars | Space photo of the day for Jan. 5, 2026
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The Westerlund 2 star cluster is home to some of the Milky Way's brightest stars.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/carina-nebula-shines-with-white-blue-stars-space-photo-of-the-day-for-jan-5-2026
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Space & Physics
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cadd4df28a0c4392554f513a1d3f6776292d61eec78a07dcb5aedb3ed452d0f0
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2026-01-05T11:55:57+00:00
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January full moon wows skywatchers with a striking 'Wolf Supermoon' (photos)
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January's full moon is often known as the 'Wolf Moon'.
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https://www.space.com/stargazing/january-full-moon-2026-wows-skywatchers-with-a-striking-wolf-supermoon-photos
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Space & Physics
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bbfcdcac6e6957123cef7a2fc0f0d11ee95559be4d5aeb2c221aba2bef4db483
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2026-01-05T11:00:00+00:00
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Moon rush: These private spacecraft will attempt lunar landings in 2026
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Lunar landers from Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic are gearing up for moon landing attempts in 2026 as the commercial exploration of deep space expands.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/moon-rush-these-private-spacecraft-will-attempt-lunar-landings-in-2026
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Space & Physics
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3e89d55e3957fd76a59d69e94feee17c27d1c5001f7a76402fa51e36540b656a
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2026-01-04T17:06:18+00:00
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SpaceX launches 1st Starlink satellites of 2026 on new Falcon 9 rocket (video)
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-starlink-6-88-b1101-ccsfs-jrti
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Space & Physics
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b8773aaa29c47fa00e0fef2e8354cafad592c75965d299151e2686680af94b2d
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2026-01-04T16:00:00+00:00
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The risk of falling space junk hitting airplanes is on the rise, experts warn
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Space debris falling to Earth is a growing threat to aircraft, and experts are trying to reduce the risk.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/the-risk-of-falling-space-junk-hitting-airplanes-is-on-the-rise-experts-warn
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Space & Physics
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9dfe5775a4e9c714234c956bca676551423fe492d7266e0c4025f501b01c827d
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2026-01-04T15:00:00+00:00
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The next frontier in space is closer than you think – welcome to the world of very low Earth orbit satellites
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But as more and more satellites are launched into LEO...the region's getting a bit crowded.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/the-next-frontier-in-space-is-closer-than-you-think-welcome-to-the-world-of-very-low-earth-orbit-satellites
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Space & Physics
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c088697d940f00aa13f83a46f70f9440a3198a97dcd85fe47b0b073cbf73623e
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2026-01-04T13:00:00+00:00
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Live long and loiter: Why NASA's ESCAPADE probes will wait a year in space before heading to Mars
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NASA's ESCAPADE Mars probes embarked on a 'loiter' trajectory after launch, and scientists say that extra time in space could have some consequences for the twin spacecraft.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/live-long-and-loiter-why-nasas-escapade-probes-will-wait-a-year-in-space-before-heading-to-mars
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Space & Physics
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e8f8f1e8eb892510b1af38feae167a4bf5f63d8043a07c8eb2dcc01a81ca3a2e
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2026-01-04T11:00:00+00:00
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2026 begins a golden age of solar eclipses: How to see 3 total solar eclipses and 3 'ring of fire' eclipses in 3 years
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Earth is about to see three total solar eclipses in just under two years, with each successive path of totality moving west to east across the globe. Here's everything you need to know to plan an exquisite triple-header.
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https://www.space.com/stargazing/eclipses/2026-begins-a-golden-age-of-solar-eclipses-how-to-see-3-total-solar-eclipses-and-3-ring-of-fire-eclipses-in-3-years
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Space & Physics
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53a29c07af7388a2c2c03400209ff1eccc73c2bfd0f1a98960946358ea56473d
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2026-01-07T00:05:00+00:00
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Does Free Will Exist? Part 1: The Clockwork Universe
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Check this out. There are some experiments that just make you…stop. That make you reconsider everything you’ve ever known.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/does-free-will-exist-part-1-the-clockwork-universe
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Space & Physics
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svg
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966a3aba3b96f500b64c92d4436a857080b96c98acf4c96f726124c81f598d2a
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2026-01-06T22:54:00+00:00
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Astronomers Discover a Bright Supernova Using Gravitational Lensing for the First Time
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An international team of astronomers using a combination of ground-based telescopes, including the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island, has discovered the first-ever spatially resolved, gravitationally lensed superluminous supernova. The object, dubbed SN 2025wny, offers a rare look at a stellar cataclysm from the early Universe and provides a striking confirmation of Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/astronomers-discover-a-bright-supernova-using-gravitational-lensing-for-the-first-time
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Space & Physics
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svg
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a870a835e628c9db8a0675cec338a737811cae2d5de10c3c6c016c8874cf547d
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2026-01-06T22:44:47+00:00
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As Puzzling As A Platypus: The JWST Finds Some Hard To Categorize Objects
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Astronomers found a handful of unusual objects in JWST survey data. These 9 point sources are being called 'Astronomy's Platypus' because, like the animal, they seem to defy categorization. They're not like active galactic nuclei, and they're not like star-forming galaxies. What are they?
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/as-puzzling-as-a-platypus-the-jwst-finds-some-hard-to-categorize-objects
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Space & Physics
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svg
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3c5937c07749c4ecb9ffcfe8cc43a5a0cb6f11edf01739a14f3a7b3a5b3ab2a8
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2026-01-06T19:17:19+00:00
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The Galaxy That Never Was
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A team using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has uncovered a new type of astronomical object —a starless, gas-rich, dark-matter cloud that is considered a “relic” or remnant of early galaxy formation. Nicknamed “Cloud-9,” this is the first confirmed detection of such an object in the Universe. The finding furthers the understanding of galaxy formation, the early Universe, and the nature of dark matter itself.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-galaxy-that-never-was
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Space & Physics
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svg
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433a43f1d50d848206c074527c2e903ce18034a0dbded62a486bce5ba565ea02
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2026-01-06T18:20:49+00:00
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Inside the Massive Radio Search of Our Newest Interstellar Guest
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It feels like every week now we’re writing a new article about how 3I/ATLAS is not an alien technology. But it’s worth re-iterating, and perhaps taking a look at the methodology we used to prove that statement. A new paper, available in pre-print form on arXiv from Sofia Sheikh of the SETI Institute and her co-authors, details how one specific instrument - the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) - contributed to that effort.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/inside-the-massive-radio-search-of-our-newest-interstellar-guest
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Space & Physics
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svg
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b4e651f9f26530c83f13a15e9359e82c4d4a8d1293d0134124dab7ac050c0767
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2026-01-06T00:16:13+00:00
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Stars And Planets Are Linked Together, And Dust Is The Key To Understanding How
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Stars and planets are linked together in their formation, evolution, and even in their demises. But many of the details behind this are yet to be revealed. New research outlines an observing strategy that could uncover more critical details.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/stars-and-planets-are-linked-together-and-dust-is-the-key-to-understanding-how
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Space & Physics
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svg
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1ac3d5305ffc6aec36c3395896ec4b795b56006a33220152f1a6928c859b8f3f
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2026-01-05T20:41:43+00:00
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To Understand Exoplanet Habitability, We Need A Better Understanding Of Stellar Flaring
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Without a better grasp of stellar flaring, our understanding of exoplanet habitability is at an impasse. Red dwarfs are the most numerous type of star in the galaxy, and they host many rocky exoplanets in their habitable zones. The problem is, they're known to flare so violently that it may negate their habitable zones. A group of researchers propose a new telescope designed solely to study stellar flaring.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/to-understand-exoplanet-habitability-we-need-a-better-understanding-of-stellar-flaring
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Space & Physics
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svg
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097a8f0f52347acc2d9b76144342588c1efa0841c2ffe42ed8dfd44bf5e366e4
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2026-01-05T17:13:10+00:00
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Ultramassive Black Holes and Their Galaxies: A Matter of Scale
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There is a strong relation between the size of a galaxy's black hole and the motion of stars in the galaxy's core, known as the M-sigma relation. It turns out this relation doesn't work well for galaxies with ultramassive black holes.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/ultramassive-black-holes-and-their-galaxies-a-matter-of-scale
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Space & Physics
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svg
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a3bd53b04f36460b10e5902a7568b67c65555f03be128c81bf182888249f3252
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2026-01-05T11:58:00+00:00
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The Ambitious Plan to Spot Habitable Moons Around Giant Planets
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So far, humanity has yet to find its first “exomoon” - a Moon orbiting a planet outside of the solar system. But that hasn’t been for lack of trying. According to a new paper by Thomas Winterhalder of the European Southern Observatory and his co-authors available as a pre-print on arXiv, the reason isn’t because those Moons don’t exist, but simply because we lack the technology to detect them. They propose a new “kilometric baseline interferometer” that can detect moons as small as the Earth up to 200 parsecs (652 light years) away.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-ambitious-plan-to-spot-habitable-moons-around-giant-planets
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Space & Physics
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svg
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3be3128c3f54e71f7729051082eb19b9f0e093f99ce97a8407886e3e99347d06
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2026-01-05T01:06:00+00:00
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XRISM Provides the Sharpest Image to Date of a Rapidly Spinning Black Hole
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The first results on the iconic active galactic nucleus MCG–6-30-15 captured with the XRISM mission show the most precise signatures yet of its supermassive black hole’s extreme gravity and the outflows that shape its galaxy.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/xrism-provides-the-sharpest-image-to-date-of-a-rapidly-spinning-black-hole
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Space & Physics
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svg
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bd0bc43999c459542e3519b282ce811d8d3e9e5db4417e23a15d020769580225
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2026-01-06T15:14:33+00:00
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Rogue Saturn Discovered Floating Through the Milky Way
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Astronomers have measured the mass of a free-floating planet for the first time. Comparable to Saturn, it’s surprisingly massive for such rogue worlds. The post Rogue Saturn Discovered Floating Through the Milky Way appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/rogue-saturn-discovered-floating-through-the-milky-way/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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0358aabe08cf55209b8f8497ef5e14f75105914777a15ef55e2d8347b0692f38
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2026-01-05T22:02:53+00:00
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A New Year of Star-Camping
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For 2026, I want to be more myself — less stress and rumination, more centeredness and joy — and that’s going to necessitate a lot more time beneath the stars. The post A New Year of Star-Camping appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-blogs/a-new-year-of-star-camping/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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a030dc80e60a604d2daed9b854be2e0f3fa1d34fd0a98591121a69f733ff3ffc
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2026-01-05T13:00:00+00:00
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Not Every Galaxy Has a Central Black Hole
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Many less massive galaxies appear to lack something astronomers thought was ubiquitous: a central, supermassive black hole. The post Not Every Galaxy Has a Central Black Hole appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/not-every-galaxy-gets-a-black-hole/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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971b8631752bef04b40a5b6144b60b6b2c9197ee7dd54ca67614860130489728
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2026-01-01T18:44:00+00:00
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Native American Full Moon Names for 2026
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Native American tribes each had their own full Moon names — we introduce the most commonly used ones and the traditions behind them. The post Native American Full Moon Names for 2026 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/native-american-full-moon-names/
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Space & Physics
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svg
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546acce15da91f3b274f70dc25249704e0e107ce1196f48c9776facf3e55931f
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2026-01-07T01:34:01
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Wildfires are polluting the air far more than thought
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Scientists have discovered that wildfires release far more air-polluting gases than previously estimated. Many of these hidden emissions can transform into fine particles that are dangerous to breathe. The study shows wildfire pollution rivals human-made emissions in some parts of the world. This helps explain why wildfire smoke can linger and worsen air quality long after the flames are gone.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107012114.htm
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Science
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svg
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ad2b106785ee388cd44453d8546d60610e1de1c73f301b58e6f4622fbc5c06c7
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2026-01-07T02:57:53
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A global cancer surge is underway and the world is not ready
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Global cancer cases have surged dramatically, doubling since 1990 and reaching 18.5 million new diagnoses in 2023. Deaths have also climbed to over 10 million a year, with the steepest increases hitting low- and middle-income countries. Without urgent action, researchers project more than 30 million new cases annually by 2050. Alarmingly, around four in ten cancer deaths are tied to preventable risks such as smoking, poor diet, and high blood sugar.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106224644.htm
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Science
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svg
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6e69426f2c7d0b94d422eac97cabd73e5fc09063a370b8ee34997b28ec2a06d8
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2026-01-07T04:35:39
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Magnetic nanoparticles fight bone cancer and help healing
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Researchers have developed a magnetic nanomaterial that can kill bone cancer cells and support bone regeneration at the same time. The material heats up under a magnetic field to destroy tumors, while its bioactive coating helps it bond to bone and stimulate healing. Tests showed rapid formation of bone-like minerals, a key sign of successful integration. The breakthrough could lead to smarter, less invasive treatments for bone tumors.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106224627.htm
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Science
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svg
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7461a692aa8779dece89fcf08945504030eddccf8aac98e2727a3be85ce14e2c
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2026-01-07T02:17:23
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Breakthrough lets scientists watch plants breathe in real time
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Scientists have created a new way to watch plants breathe—live and in high definition—while tracking exactly how much carbon and water they exchange with the air. The breakthrough could help unlock crops that grow smarter, stronger, and more drought-resistant.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106224625.htm
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Science
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svg
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36fe28db9af9344c804ca87b1fb95db9951b5985f8e2cd9c9fe7f6878c5ab008
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2026-01-07T01:04:25
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The simplest way teens can protect their mental health
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Teens who sleep in on weekends may be giving their mental health a boost. A new study found that young people who made up for lost weekday sleep had a significantly lower risk of depression. While consistent sleep is still best, weekend catch-up sleep appears to offer meaningful protection. The findings highlight how powerful sleep can be for adolescent well-being.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106224623.htm
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Science
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svg
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4642cc441caecc02c0ff08c98225842ece21652a2608ed2654bffb9a4ad72f0c
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2026-01-06T23:43:56
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11,000-year-old dog skulls reveal a hidden origin story
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Dogs began diversifying thousands of years earlier than previously believed, with clear differences in size and shape appearing over 11,000 years ago. A massive global analysis of ancient skulls shows that early dogs were already adapting to different roles in human societies. This challenges the idea that dog diversity is mainly a product of recent breeding. Instead, it points to a long process of coevolution between humans and their earliest canine companions.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001920.htm
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Science
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svg
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6bc8b062bef1a9cbf46d49883e5f34620e0d5085360814d857a199de301fd711
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2026-01-06T23:15:15
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This simple math trick could transform earthquake science
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Earthquakes happen daily, sometimes with devastating consequences, yet predicting them remains out of reach. What scientists can do is map the hidden layers beneath the surface that control how strongly the ground shakes. A new approach speeds up complex seismic simulations by a factor of about 1,000, making risk assessments far more practical. While it won’t forecast the next quake, it could help cities better prepare for one.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001918.htm
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Science
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svg
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5d42e409787de759fb362b16fcb5d4f36023281c4e734ba960ed56032798ffa7
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2026-01-06T22:25:32
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Harmful mouth bacteria may trigger Parkinson’s disease
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A familiar mouth bacterium best known for causing cavities may also be quietly influencing the brain. Scientists found that when this microbe settles in the gut, it produces compounds that can travel through the bloodstream and harm neurons involved in movement. In animal studies, this process triggered inflammation, motor problems, and brain changes linked to Parkinson’s disease. The findings hint that protecting oral and gut health could help protect the brain as well.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001916.htm
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Science
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svg
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f095b5182324ab95b1673d711306060005bc9b4cf85ec1563ed831cf7543ec5e
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2026-01-06T20:59:08
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The poison frog that fooled scientists for decades
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Researchers discovered that a poison frog species described decades ago was based on a mix-up involving the wrong museum specimen. The frog tied to the official species name turned out to be brown, not the colorful animal shown in the original photo. After tracing old records and images, scientists corrected the error and reclassified the frog as part of an already-known species. The case underscores how vital museum collections are—and how even small mistakes can ripple through science for years.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001914.htm
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Science
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svg
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27fb9d7a9a9eef003b34434c64afa6e6a6bb09807686c5d30d7ecb87591e189d
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2026-01-06T03:18:40
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Why multiple sclerosis slowly steals balance and movement
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Many people with multiple sclerosis struggle with balance and coordination, and this study uncovers a hidden reason why. Researchers found that inflammation in the brain disrupts the energy supply of vital movement-controlling neurons. As their mitochondria fail, these cells weaken and eventually die, worsening motor problems over time. Protecting brain energy systems could open the door to slowing these symptoms.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001913.htm
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Science
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svg
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122f82bb16e913f34e3689df01183e8c3bd6f00d37e5514f82acb069c9d11570
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2026-01-06T18:19:08
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SETI watched a pulsar flicker for months and found space keeps shifting
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A distant pulsar’s radio signal flickers as it passes through space, much like stars twinkle in Earth’s atmosphere. By monitoring this effect for 10 months, researchers watched the pattern slowly evolve as gas, Earth, and the pulsar all moved. Those changes create minuscule delays in the signal, but measuring them helps keep pulsars incredibly precise. The findings also aid SETI scientists in spotting signals that truly come from beyond Earth.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001909.htm
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Science
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svg
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be37760052314887246d12d5a31d18fd9ebb645af31f18a2b4399707767d317c
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2026-01-06T01:28:00
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A simple drug pair may succeed where liver fibrosis treatments failed
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Scientists have found that combining silybin with carvedilol works far better against liver fibrosis than either drug alone. The duo targets the root drivers of liver scarring, sharply reducing collagen buildup and liver damage in experimental models. Importantly, both drugs are already approved and commonly prescribed. That makes this discovery especially promising for rapid clinical translation.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001906.htm
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Science
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svg
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a49354c38103ff503cbe33797537c9f5b8a1aeeb2fbe98022883165539dd93f1
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2026-01-06T18:05:33
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The invisible energy cost that keeps life from falling apart
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Living cells pay a hidden energy price not just to run chemical reactions, but to keep them on track and block all the alternatives. A new thermodynamic framework makes it possible to calculate these overlooked costs and compare different metabolic pathways. When tested on photosynthesis, the method showed that nature favors pathways that minimize wasted energy. This offers a powerful new lens on how life’s core processes may have evolved.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106001903.htm
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Science
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svg
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1869a6a749bd1d4f0a41ce56cce13fcd50c9b943820a4dc3f9215d697333d01d
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2026-01-06T05:13:55
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Earth’s toughest microbes could help humans live on Mars
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Mars looks familiar from afar, but surviving there means creating a protective oasis in a hostile world. Instead of shipping construction materials from Earth, researchers are exploring how to use Martian soil as the raw ingredient. Two tough microbes could work together to bind dust into a concrete-like material and even help generate oxygen. The vision: 3D-print habitats using local resources, one experiment at a time.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165822.htm
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Science
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d312dc11b8f7e3373dcba334a79a80609cea7c0a88bc92f1060f62790cede9b1
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2026-01-05T21:34:44
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Scientists discover “migrions,” a viral shortcut that supercharges infection
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Scientists have uncovered a surprising viral shortcut that turns moving cells into delivery vehicles for infection. Instead of spreading one virus at a time, infected cells bundle viral material into large structures called Migrions and pass them directly to new cells. This collective delivery jump-starts viral replication and boosts disease severity. The finding reveals a migration-based route of viral spread that defies classic models of infection.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165820.htm
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Science
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svg
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9c5f6e97f4c46c98fd37c66f6d46f0cdc46e805d9a55e7aa6d972b20114349bf
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2026-01-05T20:48:09
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Flu drug once blamed for seizures in kids gets a surprising reversal
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A long-running debate over Tamiflu’s safety in children may finally be settled. Researchers found that influenza, not the antiviral medication, was linked to serious neuropsychiatric events like seizures and hallucinations. Even more striking, kids treated with Tamiflu had about half the risk of these events compared to untreated children with the flu. The results suggest the drug may be protective rather than harmful.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165818.htm
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Science
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1f1dae38a351a8bf163171bda0d3eefc13356fca29c6485f27dbfce83355cc3a
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2026-01-06T06:27:34
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Scientists find a safer way for opioids to relieve pain
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Researchers at USF Health have discovered a new way opioid receptors can work that may lead to safer pain medications. Their findings show that certain experimental compounds can amplify pain relief without intensifying dangerous side effects like suppressed breathing. This research offers a fresh blueprint for designing opioids that last longer, work better, and pose fewer risks. It also opens doors to safer treatments for other brain disorders.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165817.htm
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Science
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svg
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f8a022a7c6ce48cb7e33aaab66b8d21c72cbaddfe364960ac214c0b7ad61a73a
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2026-01-06T08:10:12
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Whales and orcas were carrying viruses no one knew existed
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Researchers studying Caribbean whales and orcas have discovered two new viruses not previously observed in these animals. The viruses were found using advanced genetic sequencing of archived samples, revealing a previously invisible layer of marine life. Their genetic makeup suggests these viruses may have ancient roots in whale evolution. What they mean for whale health is still a mystery, but the discovery opens the door to many new questions.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165813.htm
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Science
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svg
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c48bec3d6b4ccf96d9374f5eb7da2cbca517983b61972f5686648ab08fb14683
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2026-01-05T20:01:59
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Nearly all women in STEM secretly feel like impostors
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Nearly all women in STEM graduate programs report feeling like impostors, despite strong evidence of success. This mindset leads many to dismiss their achievements as luck and fear being “found out.” Research links impostorism to worse mental health, higher burnout, and increased thoughts of dropping out. Supportive environments and shifting beliefs about intelligence may help break the cycle.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165811.htm
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Science
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svg
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e2cc00b275ac4646b14203bdb8bd88ac3cef61ff02ecee2ec3ce0829ebe2fb5e
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2026-01-05T18:57:43
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Think you make 200 food choices a day? Think again
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The idea that we make over 200 unconscious food choices a day has been repeated for years, but new research shows the number is more illusion than insight. The famous figure comes from a counting method that unintentionally exaggerates how many decisions people really make. Researchers warn that framing eating as mostly “mindless” can undermine confidence and self-control. A more realistic view focuses on meaningful choices—and practical strategies that make healthy decisions easier.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165809.htm
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Science
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c7a063ba589eecfcd726c822acbc715ca7f2ac13fcb718c09aeaeedc095e156d
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2026-01-05T18:23:28
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The secret to human intelligence? It might be in our gut
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New research shows gut bacteria can directly influence how the brain develops and functions. When scientists transferred microbes from different primates into mice, the animals’ brains began to resemble those of the original host species. Microbes from large-brained primates boosted brain energy and learning pathways, while others triggered very different patterns. The results suggest gut microbes may have played a hidden role in shaping the human brain—and could influence mental health.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165806.htm
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Science
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